CAPUTO: Message also clear Lions' front office on thin ice

Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand, left, and general manager Martin Mayhew announce head coach Jim Schwartz was fired in Allen Park, Mich., Monday, Dec. 30, 2013. The Lions made the move Monday, one day after they ended their late-season slide with a loss at Minnesota. Detroit flopped to a 7-9 record this year after a 6-3 record start put the franchise in a position to win a NFL football division title for the first time since 1993. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Jim Schwartz was held accountable when he was fired as the Lions’ head coach Monday.

The Lions had arguably the best talent in the NFC North, and the only healthy starting QB, one with gaudy passing statistics, also in his fifth season. And collapsed down the stretch.

There was little suggesting Schwartz should return.

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However, there is often a thin line between accountability and a scapegoat. The Lions won’t be cured of what ails them by merely changing the head coach.

In the wild fire of all the reports before the Lions’ season finale Sunday at Minnesota, there was one, by the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, that much of the Lions’ front office was also going to be let go.

It didn’t happen. Only Schwartz, and a couple of his assistants were (other assistants, still under contract, are expected to soon follow if not wanted by the new coach, and few if any, will be).

There were some things which became crystal clear to me talking to sources Monday. The essence of Rapoport’s report were accurate.

There are many terrific candidates to replace Schwartz as head coach. Ken Whisenhunt, who led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl, would be at the head of my list. He was integral in the development of Ben Roethlisberger early in his career with the Steelers, did a terrific job with playoff-bound San Diego this season, rehabilitating the career of QB Phillip Rivers in the process, and he does know how build a coaching staff. The highly-regarded Russ Grimm, who was a big force on Cardinals’ staff, and before that at Pittsburgh, was out of coaching last year. He’d help the Lions.

Whisenhunt and Grimm are very familiar with Steelers’ GM Kevin Colbert and scouting director Ron Hughes, who worked for the Lions for years before leaving for Pittsburgh. A key could be what kind of recommendation they give.

The Lions aren’t going to be alone in their pursuit for Whisenhunt.

The key is finding a coach still hungry and driven for the ring. The NFL is totally different than the NBA, NFL and MLB where re-cycled championship coaches come in and put teams on the fringe over the top.

In fact, no coach, who has won a Super Bowl with one organization, has won a Super Bowl with another organization.

The commitment is so totally and all-encompassing in the NFL.

Schwartz’s tenure a like shooting asteroid which faded across the sky. The end of this season was the big thud. Now it’s left up to many of the same people in place the last time this happened to pick up the pieces.

They weren’t part of the wreckage this time.

But the message has been clearly sent to them:

Next time they won’t be as fortunate.

About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.